How to Repost a Story on Instagram: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Knowing how to repost a story on Instagram is one of those basic skills that sounds simple until you actually try to do it. Depending on whether someone tagged you, whether the original account is public or private, and what type of content is involved, the steps differ significantly. Instagram has changed its reposting features multiple times over the years, and the rules in 2026 are not the same as they were even a year ago. This guide covers every method available right now so you can reshare stories confidently without running into dead ends or violating anyone's content boundaries.

A repost on Instagram Stories means sharing another user's story content to your own story. When someone tags you in their story, Instagram sends you a notification and gives you a direct reshare option. When you are not tagged, the process requires workarounds since Instagram does not provide a native repost button for stories where you are not mentioned.

How to Repost a Story You Were Tagged In

This is the most straightforward method and the one Instagram officially supports. When another user mentions your account in their story, you receive a notification in your Direct Messages.

1. Open your Instagram DMs. Look for a message that says "[username] mentioned you in their story"
2. Tap the notification. This opens a preview of the story you were tagged in
3. Tap "Add This to Your Story." This button appears directly below the story preview
4. Customize the repost. Instagram loads the tagged story into the story editor. You can resize it, reposition it, add text, stickers, music, or drawings on top
5. Tap "Your Story" to publish it to all followers, or tap "Close Friends" to share with a restricted list

The reshared story automatically includes a link back to the original poster's account, giving them credit. Your followers can tap the embedded content to view the original.

Important timing note: You only have 24 hours from when the original story was posted to reshare it through this method. Once the original story expires, the "Add This to Your Story" option disappears from your DMs.

How to Repost Someone's Story When You Are Not Tagged

Instagram does not offer a built-in repost button for stories where you are not mentioned. This is a deliberate design choice to protect content creators from having their stories redistributed without consent. However, there are several legitimate approaches when you need to share someone else's story.

Ask the Creator to Tag You

The simplest and most respectful approach is sending a direct message to the original poster asking them to mention your account in the story. Many creators are happy to re-upload their story with a tag, especially if the content is relevant to both audiences. This gives you the native reshare option described above.

Use the Share to DM Feature

While you cannot repost an untagged story to your own story, you can share it privately.

1. Open the story you want to share
2. Tap the paper airplane icon at the bottom
3. Select the account you want to send it to, or search for a username
4. Add an optional message and tap Send

This does not post the story to your profile, but it allows you to share the content with specific people. It is useful when you want to show a colleague, collaborator, or friend something without publicly resharing it.

Screenshot or Screen Record Method

If you have permission from the content creator, you can take a screenshot of a photo story or screen record a video story and then upload it to your own story manually.

• For photo stories: Take a screenshot, crop it to remove Instagram's interface elements, then upload it as a new story
• For video stories: Use your phone's built-in screen recording feature, trim the clip, and upload it as a story

Always credit the original creator by adding a text mention or using the mention sticker with their username. Posting someone else's content without attribution is poor etiquette and can lead to reports against your account.

How to Repost a Story on Instagram Using Third-Party Apps

Several third-party apps are designed specifically for reposting Instagram content. These tools typically work by letting you copy the link to a post or story and then reformatting it for resharing. Popular options include Repost for Instagram, Reposter, and StorySaver.

Here is the general workflow for most repost apps:

1. Open the Instagram story you want to repost
2. Tap the three dots (menu) on the story and select "Copy Link" if available
3. Open the repost app -- it usually detects the copied link automatically
4. Edit the repost. Most apps let you add an attribution watermark showing the original creator's username
5. Save or share directly to your Instagram story

Considerations before using third-party apps:

• Always verify the app's permissions before granting access. Avoid apps that request your Instagram password -- legitimate repost apps work through link sharing, not login credentials
• Some apps include their own branding or watermarks on the free tier
• Instagram's terms of service require that you have the right to share content you post. Using a repost app does not change this requirement
• Story links are not always available, especially from private accounts

Reposting Feed Posts to Your Instagram Story

This is different from reposting a story, but it is a closely related feature that many people confuse with story reposting. Instagram allows you to share any public feed post directly to your story.

1. Open the feed post (photo, Reel, or carousel) you want to share
2. Tap the paper airplane icon below the post
3. Select "Add Post to Your Story" from the menu
4. Customize the appearance in the story editor -- resize, add stickers, text, or other elements
5. Publish to your story or Close Friends list

The reshared post appears as a tappable sticker in your story. When viewers tap it, they are taken to the original post. This method works only for public accounts. If the original account is private, the "Add Post to Your Story" option does not appear.

This is a highly effective engagement strategy. Sharing a collaborator's post, a customer testimonial, or a relevant piece of content from another creator to your story drives traffic to their profile while keeping your own story feed active.

Best Practices for Reposting Stories on Instagram

Reposting is a powerful content strategy, but doing it poorly can damage your reputation or create friction with other creators. Follow these guidelines to repost effectively.

• Always credit the original creator. Whether you use the native reshare tool or a third-party app, make sure the original poster's username is visible. Use the mention sticker or add a text overlay with their handle
• Ask permission when the content is not tagged to you. A quick DM saying "Love this story -- would you mind if I shared it to my audience?" takes ten seconds and builds goodwill
• Add your own commentary. A plain repost with no context adds little value. Write a reaction, explain why the content matters to your audience, or ask your followers a question related to the reposted content
• Do not repost excessively. An account that consists mostly of reposted content feels impersonal. Use reposts strategically to complement your original content, not replace it
• Respect privacy settings. Never screenshot or screen record stories from private accounts and share them publicly. This violates trust and Instagram's community guidelines
• Check if the creator has disabled resharing. Instagram allows users to prevent their stories from being reposted. If the "Add This to Your Story" option is missing even though you were tagged, the creator has turned off story resharing in their privacy settings

Why Reposting Stories Matters for Growth

Reposting stories is not just about filling your content calendar. It serves several strategic purposes that directly impact your growth on the platform.

Building relationships with other creators. When you reshare someone's content to your story and tag them, they receive a notification. This visibility often leads to reciprocal sharing, collaborations, and networking opportunities. Many creator relationships start with something as simple as a story repost.

User-generated content amplification. If customers, fans, or community members create stories mentioning your brand or account, resharing that content serves as social proof. It shows your audience that real people engage with and endorse what you do.

Keeping your story feed active. The Instagram algorithm rewards accounts that use stories consistently. On days when you do not have original content ready, a thoughtful repost keeps your presence in the stories tray without requiring new creative work. If you are looking to complement your story activity with increased visibility, services like SocialzAI (socialz.ai) -- trusted by 78,000+ creators with a 30-day retention guarantee and no password required -- can help grow your audience while you focus on content.

Cross-promotion for collaborations. When you collaborate with another creator on content, reposting their story about the collaboration exposes it to both audiences simultaneously and reinforces the partnership.

Troubleshooting Common Reposting Issues

If you are running into problems trying to repost a story, here are the most common causes and fixes.

• "Add This to Your Story" button is missing. The original poster has disabled story resharing. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Story, and check "Allow Sharing." This controls whether your own stories can be reshared -- but you cannot change another user's setting
• The repost option expired. You have only 24 hours from when the original story was published. After that, the reshare option disappears permanently for that story
• Repost appears blurry or low quality. This happens most often with screenshot-based reposts. Use screen recording at the highest resolution your device supports, or ask the creator to send you the original file directly
• Cannot repost from a private account. Instagram blocks story resharing from private accounts entirely. There is no native workaround for this -- the privacy setting overrides all sharing features
• Third-party app is not detecting the link. Some stories do not generate shareable links, particularly stories with certain interactive elements. Try copying the link from the story's three-dot menu instead of the share sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you repost a story on Instagram if you are not tagged?

There is no native Instagram feature to repost a story you are not tagged in directly to your own story. Your options are to ask the creator to tag you so the reshare button appears, use a third-party repost app, or take a screenshot or screen recording with the creator's permission and upload it manually with proper credit.

Do people get notified when you repost their Instagram story?

Yes, if you use the native "Add This to Your Story" reshare feature, the original poster receives a notification that you shared their story. If you use a screenshot or third-party app instead, they do not receive an automatic notification, though they will see it if you tag them with a mention sticker.

Why can I not repost someone's story even though they tagged me?

The most likely reason is that the original poster has disabled story resharing in their privacy settings. Another possibility is that more than 24 hours have passed since they posted the story, which removes the reshare option. Finally, check that your Instagram app is updated to the latest version, as outdated versions sometimes miss newer sharing features.

How do you repost a story on Instagram without it looking like a repost?

If you want the content to appear as original on your story rather than as an embedded reshare, you need to save the media file separately and upload it as a new story. Ask the creator to send you the original image or video, then post it with your own text, stickers, and design. Always credit the creator even when the post does not use the native reshare format.

Can you repost Instagram stories from private accounts?

No. Instagram does not allow any form of story resharing from private accounts. You cannot use the native reshare tool, and story links are not generated for private account content. Screenshotting and resharing stories from private accounts without explicit permission is a violation of trust and Instagram's community guidelines.

Is there a limit to how many stories you can repost per day?

Instagram does not publish an official limit on story reposts. However, your total story limit is 100 slides per 24-hour period, and that includes both original content and reshared stories. In practice, you are unlikely to hit this ceiling, but accounts that repost at extremely high volumes in a short time frame may trigger temporary action blocks as Instagram's automation detection flags the behavior.